Acts 4
4
Peter and John Are Arrested
1While Peter and John were still speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple guard, and the Sadducees came up to them. 2The Sadducees were a group that didn’t believe people could be raised from the dead, so they were very upset that the apostles were teaching that Jesus had risen from the dead. 3The temple leaders arrested Peter and John, and because it was already evening, they put them in prison until the next day. 4But many of the people who heard their message put their trust in Jesus. The total number of men who were believers grew to about 5,000.
5The next day the rulers, the elders, and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. 6Annas, the high priest, was there, along with Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and other members of the high priest’s family. 7They brought Peter and John in so they could question them. “By what power did you do this?” they asked. “And in whose name?”
8Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of the people! 9Do you want us to explain our actions? Are you asking why we helped this man who couldn’t walk? Do you want to know how he was healed? 10Then listen, you and all the people of Israel! It is through the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth that this man stands healed in front of you. You nailed Jesus to the cross, but God raised him from the dead. 11Scripture says that he is
“ ‘the stone you builders did not accept,
which has become the most important stone of all.’
12Salvation can be found in no one else, because no other name has been given to us under heaven—it’s only in Jesus’ name that we must be saved.”
13The leaders knew that Peter and John were ordinary, untrained men, and so they were amazed by how boldly they spoke. They recognized that the two of them had been with Jesus. 14The leaders could see the man who’d been healed standing there with them. So there was nothing for them to say. 15They ordered Peter and John to leave the meeting; they wanted to talk things over among themselves. 16“What can we do with these men?” they asked. “Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they’ve performed a very great miracle. We can’t deny that it happened. 17But this thing must not spread any farther among the people. Warn these men never to speak to anyone again in Jesus’ name.”
18The leaders called Peter and John back and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19But Peter and John replied, “Which is right from God’s point of view? For us listen to you, or to God? You be the judges! 20But as far as we’re concerned, we have to speak about the things we’ve seen and heard.”
21The leaders warned Peter and John again and then let them go. They didn’t dare punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened. 22The man who’d been healed by the miracle was over 40 years old.
The Believers Pray
23After Peter and John were released, they went back to their own people and told them everything the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24When the believers heard about it all, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Lord and King,” they said, “you made the heavens, the earth, and the sea and everything in them. 25Through the mouth of our father David, your servant, you spoke by the Holy Spirit. You said,
“ ‘Why do the nations rage?
Why do the people make plans that can’t succeed?
26The kings of the earth rise up.
The rulers of the earth gather together
against the Lord
and against his chosen king.’
27In fact, Herod and Pontius Pilate met with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city. Together they conspired against your holy servant Jesus, your chosen one. 28They did what your power and purpose had already decided would happen. 29Now, Lord, consider their threats and help us to be very bold when we speak your word. 30Stretch out your hand to heal, and do signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
31After they had prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke God’s word without any fear.
The Believers Share What They Own
32All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that anything they owned was theirs. Instead, they shared everything they had. 33The apostles continued to testify with great power that the Lord Jesus had risen from the dead, and God’s grace worked so powerfully among them 34that no one lacked anything. Those who owned land or houses would sell them 35and lay the money at the apostles’ feet, and they in turn would give the money to anyone who needed it.
36One person who did this was Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus. The apostles called him Barnabas, which means Son of Encouragement. 37He sold a field he owned and brought the money from the sale and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
Currently Selected:
Acts 4: RAD
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
Radiate™ New Testament
Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998, 2014, 2020 by Biblica, Inc.
Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Acts 4
4
Peter and John Are Arrested
1While Peter and John were still speaking to the people, the priests, the captain of the temple guard, and the Sadducees came up to them. 2The Sadducees were a group that didn’t believe people could be raised from the dead, so they were very upset that the apostles were teaching that Jesus had risen from the dead. 3The temple leaders arrested Peter and John, and because it was already evening, they put them in prison until the next day. 4But many of the people who heard their message put their trust in Jesus. The total number of men who were believers grew to about 5,000.
5The next day the rulers, the elders, and the teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. 6Annas, the high priest, was there, along with Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and other members of the high priest’s family. 7They brought Peter and John in so they could question them. “By what power did you do this?” they asked. “And in whose name?”
8Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of the people! 9Do you want us to explain our actions? Are you asking why we helped this man who couldn’t walk? Do you want to know how he was healed? 10Then listen, you and all the people of Israel! It is through the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth that this man stands healed in front of you. You nailed Jesus to the cross, but God raised him from the dead. 11Scripture says that he is
“ ‘the stone you builders did not accept,
which has become the most important stone of all.’
12Salvation can be found in no one else, because no other name has been given to us under heaven—it’s only in Jesus’ name that we must be saved.”
13The leaders knew that Peter and John were ordinary, untrained men, and so they were amazed by how boldly they spoke. They recognized that the two of them had been with Jesus. 14The leaders could see the man who’d been healed standing there with them. So there was nothing for them to say. 15They ordered Peter and John to leave the meeting; they wanted to talk things over among themselves. 16“What can we do with these men?” they asked. “Everyone living in Jerusalem knows they’ve performed a very great miracle. We can’t deny that it happened. 17But this thing must not spread any farther among the people. Warn these men never to speak to anyone again in Jesus’ name.”
18The leaders called Peter and John back and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19But Peter and John replied, “Which is right from God’s point of view? For us listen to you, or to God? You be the judges! 20But as far as we’re concerned, we have to speak about the things we’ve seen and heard.”
21The leaders warned Peter and John again and then let them go. They didn’t dare punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened. 22The man who’d been healed by the miracle was over 40 years old.
The Believers Pray
23After Peter and John were released, they went back to their own people and told them everything the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24When the believers heard about it all, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Lord and King,” they said, “you made the heavens, the earth, and the sea and everything in them. 25Through the mouth of our father David, your servant, you spoke by the Holy Spirit. You said,
“ ‘Why do the nations rage?
Why do the people make plans that can’t succeed?
26The kings of the earth rise up.
The rulers of the earth gather together
against the Lord
and against his chosen king.’
27In fact, Herod and Pontius Pilate met with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city. Together they conspired against your holy servant Jesus, your chosen one. 28They did what your power and purpose had already decided would happen. 29Now, Lord, consider their threats and help us to be very bold when we speak your word. 30Stretch out your hand to heal, and do signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
31After they had prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke God’s word without any fear.
The Believers Share What They Own
32All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that anything they owned was theirs. Instead, they shared everything they had. 33The apostles continued to testify with great power that the Lord Jesus had risen from the dead, and God’s grace worked so powerfully among them 34that no one lacked anything. Those who owned land or houses would sell them 35and lay the money at the apostles’ feet, and they in turn would give the money to anyone who needed it.
36One person who did this was Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus. The apostles called him Barnabas, which means Son of Encouragement. 37He sold a field he owned and brought the money from the sale and laid it at the apostles’ feet.
Currently Selected:
:
Highlight
Share
Copy
Want to have your highlights saved across all your devices? Sign up or sign in
Radiate™ New Testament
Copyright © 1995, 1996, 1998, 2014, 2020 by Biblica, Inc.
Used with permission. All rights reserved worldwide.